INSPIRING YOUNG READERS IN THE CLASSROOM

Teachers across Wales have a new resource to help them inspire a love of reading with young learners.

Today, 1 October, the Books Council of Wales has launched a Celebrate Reading Pack for primary and secondary schools, full of ideas, activities and special resources to enjoy reading in the classroom.

The pack was created following feedback received from teachers in Wales asking for resources that would help them to celebrate reading all year round, in addition to the popular reading celebrations such as World Book Day in March, and UNESCO’s World Book and Copyright Day in April.

Ruth James, a teacher from Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Ogwr said: “There were a whole host of brand new ideas that would engage pupils to read. Having a resource like this is so valuable. We will definitely be using a number of the activities this year and encouraging the rest of the staff to use them too. I can’t stress enough the importance of creating a reading culture in class.”

Bethan Jones, Head of Children’s Books and Reading Promotion said: “We’re so pleased to offer this pack to teachers across Wales to help them instil a love of reading, and to enjoy books with learners in the classroom.

“From the review we held in 2023, we received a clear message from teachers that they would welcome resources to help them create more opportunities to celebrate reading in class throughout the year.

“The pack focusses on a range of books from Wales, and includes activities, discussion guides, author recordings, and links to subjects across the Curriculum for Wales, together with ideas that can also be adapted for studying other books.

“The pack is also full of great ideas to celebrate books in schools inside and outside the classroom – from reading events, book swaps, displays and assemblies – to put reading and a love of books at the heart of school life.

“We really hope that it will answer the call from teachers for resources to help them in the classroom, and make reading for pleasure a part of the day-to-day life of the school.”

The Celebrate Reading Pack is available for schools to download from the Books Council of Wales website: Celebrate Reading Pack | Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru

BOOKTOBER CHALLENGE

• Want to read more but don’t know where to start?
• Can’t find the time for some ‘me’ time?
• Need an autumn challenge to focus on?

Join the Booktober challenge!

If you’re finding it hard to take time out to relax, or if you’d love to read more but never seem to have long enough to lose yourself in a good book, the Booktober challenge is a great way to start.

The challenge is to read one Quick Reads book a week during October. This special series of short books by well-known authors offers the perfect way to delve into a book – even if you only have a few minutes a day.

Quick Reads books offer both fiction and non-fiction titles and the new books for 2024 include works by Clare Mackintosh, Jo Nesbo and Malorie Blackman, as well as Welsh authors Nicola Davies and Hugh Warwick. Priced at £1, and at around 100 pages each, the books are perfect for a train trip to work, a lunchtime read or ten minutes with a cuppa. New titles are published each year to add to the series.

The new English-language Quick Reads published in Wales for 2024 are published by Graffeg:

Five Nights Out by ecologist Hugh Warwick takes us on a journey through Hugh’s interactions with some of our favourite nocturnal creatures, including hedgehogs, bats, owls and more. It includes many facts about each creature and is a retelling of some of Hugh’s own journeys trying to view them – Five Nights Out is a perfect read for any naturalist.

Piebald, a crime fiction thriller by Nicola Davies. Mattie’s life has been made more difficult recently by her mother’s latest boyfriend, Sargent, a minor local drug lord. As the reality of Sargent’s business interests becomes more and more obvious, Mattie realises she must get herself and Tyler out of danger.

Helgard Krause, Chief Executive of the Books Council of Wales said: “We all know how hard it can be to find time to sit down with a book and take some time to ourselves. The beauty of the Quick Reads series is that they’re written for busy people, so you can enjoy a great read from a fantastic author in just a few short sessions. The Booktober challenge is an easy way to fit in some reading time every week, and maybe you’ll discover your next favourite author in the process!”

Matthew Howard, Publishing Director at Graffeg said “Quick Reads is a fabulous concept and we’re delighted to have been involved over the past three years. Just £1 gets you a quality read from a recognised author – perfect if you want to try something new or have limited time to read. This year you can have a night out with Hugh Warwick or put your feet up with Nicola Davies; either way, as entertainment goes it’s the best value there is.”

The Quick Reads programme, developed by the Reading Agency, is coordinated in Wales by the Books Council of Wales, thanks to funding from Welsh Government. This funding supports the publication of Quick Reads / Stori Sydyn books from Wales in both Welsh and English every year. The Welsh-language titles for 2024 are published by Y Lolfa: Tywyllwch y Fflamau by Alun Davies, and Deffro’r Ddraig – Rygbi Cymru 1998–2024 by Seimon Williams.

The Cabinet Secretary for Education, Lynne Neagle MS, said: “Reading is a vital skill that is essential throughout our whole lives. The Booktober Challenge is a perfect opportunity to develop these skills where so many of us feel that we don’t have the time to do so. It is a great pleasure to be immersed in a book, and I am delighted that more Quick Read books have been published with the help of Welsh Government funding.

I wish you all good luck with this challenge. Happy reading!”

You can follow the Booktober challenge on Instagram @books.wales from 1–31 October 2024. A list of recent Quick Reads and Stori Sydyn titles is available on the Books Council’s website books.wales

Folding Rock –
Announcing a brand-new literary magazine for readers in Wales and beyond

The Books Council of Wales has today announced the recipient of £80,000 of annual funding to publish a new literary magazine from Wales.

Folding Rock: New Writing from Wales and Beyond will provide a platform for new and established writers, celebrating Welsh writing in English. It is founded by writer, editor and creative producer Kathryn Tann, and editor and designer Robert Harries.

The funding was awarded for a period of four years, up to March 2028, following the advertisement of an open tender for a new English-language literary magazine in March 2024. The process was concluded over the summer, and Folding Rock will publish its first issue in March 2025.

Helgard Krause, Chief Executive of the Books Council of Wales, said: “We would like to offer our warmest congratulations to Kathryn and Rob at Folding Rock for their successful application to secure this funding. The vision they presented to the publishing sub-committee was for a magazine that will champion and celebrate the best emerging and established Welsh and Wales-based writers, and create a powerful, visible pipeline for new talent to find publishing success.

“This goes to the heart of our work at the Books Council – creating opportunities to discover new writers, and ultimately to strengthen the publishing industry in Wales as the next generation of authors hone their craft.

“We are looking forward to working with this exciting new venture and to seeing the first issue of Folding Rock hot off the press early next year.”

Kathryn Tann from Folding Rock said: “Folding Rock is the result of many years of dreaming about how Rob Harries and I might use our skills, experience and steadfast belief in the writers of Wales to create something that readers and publishers everywhere will pay attention to. We are so grateful for all the support and encouragement we’ve had so far, and can’t wait to see where these next few years will take us.”

This funding comes from Welsh Government through Creative Wales, who fund the four-year franchises for English-language cultural periodicals. The grant is administered through the Books Council of Wales.

The Minister for Creative Industries, Jack Sargeant MS, said: “Creative Wales is committed to working with the Books Council of Wales to help support a vibrant and diverse publishing sector in Wales. The launch of Folding Rock marks an exciting new chapter for the Welsh publishing industry, offering a fresh platform for both emerging and established voices and celebrating Welsh writing in English, I look forward to the first edition in 2025!”

The first issue of Folding Rock will be published in March 2025. It will be published three times a year, with digital content alongside the print magazine. You can follow Folding Rock on social media channels https://linktr.ee/foldingrock and register for updates or find out more at foldingrock.com.

This year, nine young writers have been able to take a step closer to realising their ambitions to become published authors, thanks to a generous bequest from Marie Evans, who wished to support young people to develop their writing skills.

Thanks to Marie’s family, the Books Council of Wales was able to organise a writing retreat, to give young authors the chance to spend two days in the company of author Sioned Erin. They were able to take time to discuss writing, share ideas and take part in individual discussions with Erin to receive her feedback on their own work. The group also spent time with the Books Council’s Head of Publishing Development, to gain an insight into how publishing works and the path to becoming a published writer.

Caryl, who took part in the sessions, said “it has meant the opportunity to step out of the busyness of everyday life and take time for what is so important to me. It has inspired me to write again.”

Megan said that the retreat has meant that the group could “inspire each other, celebrate our creativity and our differences and take advice on the most difficult aspects of creative writing.”

Sioned Erin won the Prose Medal at the National Eisteddfod, Ceredigion in 2022 with her volume of short stories, Rhyngom. She led the retreat, sharing her own experiences from starting out as a writer to becoming an award-winning published author.

She said: “These are the first workshops I have held as a creative facilitator. There are some negative voices in your head at the beginning, and you often question whether you are good enough and experienced enough to hold these kinds of workshops. But really, there was no need for me to worry for a second. The group, and Bethan from the Books Council, were so lovely, so supportive and exceptionally hardworking, and the feedback has been so heartening and such a boost. These workshops are extremely valuable to those who attend them, but I’m keen to stress how valuable they are to the people who run them, too. Thank you so much for the opportunity.”

Bethan Jones, Head of Children’s Books and Reading Promotion at the Books Council of Wales said: “We would like to say thank you so much to Marie’s family for enabling us to hold this writing retreat in her memory. Marie worked for the Books Council for over 30 years and her wish was to support young people to develop their writing skills. Her gift has given nine young people the opportunity to work with an established author, and to share their experiences, inspiration and ideas with other young writers.”

The writers were selected following an open call-out held in 2023 which invited young writers aged 18–25 to apply with a sample of their work, and nine were invited to take part. The first retreat session was held in January 2024, and the second day was held in June. We wish the group all the best and hope that they will keep in touch as they continue on their writing journeys.

Young readers from Ysgol Twm o’r Nant in Denbigh have been getting ready to tackle this year’s Summer Reading Challenge with author Leisa Mererid at a launch event at Denbigh Library this afternoon, Wednesday 10 July 2024.

The children have signed up for the Challenge, created by national charity The Reading Agency, which aims to keep kids reading over the summer holidays with events, activities and brilliant books – all available to access for free from local libraries.

This year’s Summer Reading Challenge, Marvellous Makers, celebrates creativity – from dance to drawing, junk modelling to music – there’s something for everyone.

And author Leisa Mererid got the class from Ysgol Twm o’r Nant off to a great start, by introducing her book Y Wariar Bach, with some yoga moves and breathing exercises.

Meira Jones, from Denbigh Library, said: “We are so excited to have the national launch of this year’s Summer Reading Challenge at Denbigh Library, Denbighshire. The Challenge encourages the children to read for pleasure throughout the summer, improving their reading skills and confidence. It’s all about imagination and creativity this year so there is something for everyone, come to your local library and join in the Marvellous Makers fun!”

Dafydd Davies, Headteacher at Ysgol Twm o’r Nant said: “Ysgol Twm o’r Nant is very pleased to be part of this launch at Denbigh Library. As a school we are very active in promoting reading for pleasure and are sure that being part of this launch will encourage our young learners to continue to read over the summer holidays.”

The annual Summer Reading Challenge is delivered by The Reading Agency. It is supported in Wales by the Books Council of Wales, thanks to funding from Welsh Government. In partnership with local libraries, the scheme aims to prevent the “summer dip” learning loss many children experience over the holidays when they aren’t in school. With libraries’ support, it provides a free, fun way to keep young minds active.

The Cabinet Secretary for Education, Lynne Neagle, said: “I know what a great pleasure it is to be truly absorbed in a book. The Summer Reading Challenge is a really fantastic way for children to develop reading skills, discover new authors and gain a lifelong passion for books.

“That’s why we are funding the scheme again this year to make sure all children have the opportunity to continue their reading during the summer holidays.”  

Young readers aged 4–11 can sign up for the Challenge at their local library, or online, and unlock rewards, discover new reads, log their reading and enjoy a range of free activities. Find out more at your local library or at summerreadingchallenge.org.uk

BOoks Council of Wales announces over 40 projects that share £500,000 of funding in third year of New Audiences Grant

The Books Council of Wales has announced the 44 projects across Wales that have received funding through the New Audiences Grant for 2024.

Applications totalling almost £1 million were received for the £500,000 fund, which was made available by Welsh Government through Creative Wales, to support and develop the publishing industry in Wales.

Applications were invited under three themes: book promotion and marketing programmes that reach new readers in Welsh and English; provide opportunities to new voices in news services and popular magazines; and develop and publish new content that represents Wales in all its diversity.

Among the projects to receive funding are:

Atebol: promoting books from Sebra, the new publishing imprint for adults, to new audiences
Atebol will build on the early success of Sebra, their new and contemporary imprint which has a strong focus on developing new audiences and talent. This will include a cutting-edge digital material creation package to promote books, a visual project and working with a specialist external company to develop the style of Sebra’s covers.

Material Queer
Material Queer will commission a range of Welsh or Wales-based journalists to deliver articles in explorative formats such as video or audio in order to reach new audiences across multiple platforms, with a particular focus on social media. The call-out for submissions will be nationwide. The journalists selected will be provided opportunities for connection and learning and will be mentored throughout their commission. Material Queer’s aim is to diversify not just the news, but who tells it and how, in Wales; creating important structural change which will ultimately strengthen the industry.

Urdd Gobaith Cymru
The Urdd’s intention is to offer an opportunity to develop and mentor a young person to contribute cartoons to Cip magazine and nurture talents and skills that will contribute to the publishing world in Wales in the future. We will offer mentoring opportunities with experienced and inspiring individuals with the aim of developing the ability to tell a story through words and pictures.

Seren Books: Change from Within
Through this project, Seren will appoint an early-career individual with lived experience of racism, ableism and/or poverty as a Desk Editor at Seren where they will gain first-hand experience of working within the book trade in Wales. The role will include upskilling in copy- and creative-editing through mentoring and a short training course. With mentor support, they will also lead a project to commission new fiction and non-fiction titles by writers who have lived experience of racism, ableism and/or poverty via an open call-out. Successful writers and the Desk Editor will then be supported to develop their pitches into publication proposals for Seren’s 2025/26 publishing programme.

Lucent Dreaming: Anthology of Welsh Deaf and Disabled writers
Lucent Dreaming will commission and develop a bilingual anthology titled Beyond/Tu Hwnt: Anthology of Welsh Deaf and Disabled Writers/Blodeugerdd o Ysgrifenwyr Cymraeg Byddar ac Anabl, edited by Bethany Handley, Megan Angharad Hunter and Sioned Erin Hughes, with a view to publication. The book will feature work from 20+ contributors. The project will develop writing for publication from Deaf and Disabled writers. This anthology aims to create a space for, and preserve, the rich and diverse voices of contemporary Wales for future generations to come.

Helgard Krause, Chief Executive of the Books Council of Wales said: “We are very grateful to Creative Wales and Welsh Government for supporting this vital fund again, especially in a year when this additional funding will make such an impact to the businesses and initiatives that have been awarded grants. Competition for the grant this year was higher than ever with many excellent applications, and while we were not able to fund all of them, we were delighted to see so many creative, forward-thinking proposals submitted. We look forward to seeing the outcomes of these exciting projects at the end of the year.”

Since 2022, Creative Wales has supported the New Audiences Grant with over £1.5 million in funding, supporting over 100 different projects across Wales.

The Minister for Creative Industries, Sarah Murphy, said: “To have supported over 100 projects under our New Audiences Grant is such a fantastic achievement. This funding allows for real opportunities for new and diverse voices to be heard across Wales and beyond.

“The volume of high-quality applications received shows how there is real demand for this funding, to further develop and support a publishing industry that represents the whole of Wales. Pob lwc / good luck to all those supported through the fund.”

The full list of projects awarded funding in this round is published on the Books Council’s website Grants | Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru